President Bola Tinubu has lauded Dr. Akinwumi Adesina’s remarkable decade-long leadership at the African Development Bank (AfDB), praising his vision and extraordinary achievements as he stepped down after ten years as president of the continental financial institution.
The farewell ceremony, themed “Akinwumi A. Adesina: The Man, His Mandate, Mission and Message”, was held on Monday at the AfDB headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and featured the unveiling of a book chronicling his legacy.
In a goodwill message delivered on his behalf by Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, President Tinubu said Adesina’s leadership redefined development finance in Africa.
“We celebrate your decade-long leadership and achievements at the African Development Bank,” Tinubu said. “Your dedication to Africa’s economic transformation has inspired a new generation of leaders. Through your High 5 agenda, you drove economic growth, improved food security, and promoted regional integration across the continent.”
He added: “We wish you continued success in your future endeavours.”
Adesina, who assumed office in 2015 as the eighth president of the AfDB and the first Nigerian to lead the bank, introduced the High 5 agenda—Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.
Under his stewardship, the AfDB scaled up access to electricity, boosted agricultural output, expanded regional infrastructure, and promoted industrialisation, while increasing the bank’s capital base and global standing.
The farewell event was attended by senior African leaders, development partners, and dignitaries, who hailed Adesina’s impact in driving the continent’s transformation.
Ndubuisi Francis
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